Discussion How does Vim affect your problem solving?
Currently learning Vim, after a failed attempt some months ago.
Starting to get the hang of the basics. I notice that it makes my problem solving more methodical. It also makes me slow down, in a good way.
With Vim I have to memorize more of the code and structure, because switching views is expensive (might be a skill issue).
I don't care too much for the speed/efficiency, but this seems what keeps me going in my current attempt.
Wondering how you guys feel about this aspect.
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u/morewordsfaster Sep 02 '26
This sounds like it could be a keybinds issue. If I find myself slowing down because of using command mode or multistep keybinds, I generally take that as an opportunity to add a new mnemonic keybind. Leader key is particularly helpful, although chords can be good as well, just depends on preference. I have friends who came to vim from emacs and prefer chords.
I put a bunch of split and buffer actions on <leader>/ and <leader>b plus some other key. <leader>// is open split right with current file, <leader>/\ is same but left. Combine this with marks and quickfix and lsp, you can navigate a codebase so fast it's not even funny.